Who Knew Pirates Could Follow Structure?---The 3 Act Structure In The Curse of the Black Pearl

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is one of my favorite movies of all time. I love this movie for several reasons, one of them being Johnny Depp's outstanding performance as Captain Jack Sparrow. However, it is not only Johnny's good looks and mad acting skills that make this movie so appealing to me; it is also the use of the "3 Act Structure" which makes the plot all the more interesting to watch. With the use of the 3 Act Structure, the movie is sprinkled with plot points throughout various stages of the film, leaving the audience wondering, "What's coming next?!"


The 3 Act Structure consist of Introduction, Complication, and Resolution. At the end of each segment, there is a Plot Point designed to carry the story over into the next section. These Plot Points are complications within the story meant to intrigue the audience and to make them want to know what happens next in the film. Also, the 3 Act Structure usually utilizes a climax near the ending of the film, with its resolution being a positive outcome.


Now, let's look at the 3 Act Structure in The Curse of the Black Pearl:

 1) INTRODUCTION (1/4 of Movie)

• The opening scene introduces Elizabeth Swann, William Turner (among other characters), and the notion of Piracy. 
• Glimpse of the pirate ship, The Black Pearl.
• Emphasis placed on a golden Pirate medallion hanging around Will's neck (which Elizabeth takes from him)
• The story moves forward a few years, and Elizabeth and Will's characters are developed further, suggesting a romantic interest between the two.
• Elizabeth's character pretends to be demure on the outside, but inwardly she desires a life of adventure and she is fascinated by pirates. She is attracted to Will but realizes she cannot be with him because of his low social status.
• Will's character is the portrait of hard work and honesty. He is a blacksmith and is very much attracted to Elizabeth. However, because he is so proper, he prevents himself from letting Elizabeth know how much he likes her.
• Setting is established: Port Royal, an anti-piracy port rules by Commodore Norrington and Governor Swann.

• The pirate Jack Sparrow is introduced as he tries to steal a ship from the port, and he is consequently arrested and imprisoned.
• Elizabeth falls into the ocean with the Pirate medallion around her neck. The latter sends a wave across the ocean. 
• As a result, the Black Pearl, whose crew has been in search for the medallion for years, attacks Port Royal and kidnaps Elizabeth with the medallion. 
• The crew of the Black Pearl is introduced. Most prominent: Captain Barbossa.
• INTRODUCTION PEAK: The Introduction peaks when Elizabeth is kidnapped and when the audience finds out that Jack Sparrow has somehow been involved with the Black Pearl in the past. The plot point is the scene where Elizabeth taken away on the Black Pearl along with the medallion.  This is the Plot point because it leaves the audience with the following questions: 

•  What's going to happen to Elizabeth?
• Why do the pirates need the medallion so badly?
• Will William try to rescue Elizabeth?
• Why does Jack Sparrow know the Black Pearl and its crew?
• What is Sparrow's history, and how will he be involved with the rest of the characters in the film?
• What is that curse which makes the Black Pearl crew turn to skeletons when the moonlight hits them?!

2) COMPLICATION (2-3/4  of Movie):

• Jack Sparrow agrees to help Will rescue Elizabeth in exchange for his freedom. 
• Stakes are raised as Will breaks the law to spring Sparrow out of jail. 
• The two, after shaking off the Port Royal Navy, embark in a voyage to catch up with the Pearl.
• Will finds out that his father was pirate, something he is repulsed by, and that he also used to be friends with Sparrow.
• We find out that the Pirates are cursed (thus the turning-into-skeletons part), and the only way to break the curse is to return the medallion to its original chest and shed the blood of the one carrying it. Audience is led to believe that Elizabeth will be killed. 
• The plot thickens when Elizabeth's blood does not lift the curse, and we find out that it is actually Will's blood that will lift the curse!
• Audience finds out that Jack Sparrow used to be the Pearl's captain until Barbossa led a mutiny against him. 
• Jack is trying to regain the Pearl.
• There is an array of maritime confrontations between the Pirates and the Jack & Will crew. In the end, Will is captured, and Jack and Elizabeth are left to die on a deserted island.
• COMPLICATION PEAK: The Complication peaks as Will is captured, and Jack and Elizabeth are deserted on an island in the middle of the ocean. This stage is the Plot Point because it leads the audience to believe that there is no hope left because all the main characters find themselves in unfavorable situations. This Plot Point leaves the audience asking themselves the following questions: 

•  Will Elizabeth and Jack be able to escape? And if so, how?
• Is Jack Sparrow really as legendary as he is supposed to be?
• Is Will going to die?
• How will the movie continue if all the characters are doomed?
• Does this mean that the "evil guys" win?
• How could any of the characters turn the situation around?
• Will William's blood lift the curse?
• Why is Will's blood so important? 

3) RESOLUTION (4th/4 of the Movie)

•  Jack and Elizabeth are rescued by the Port Royal Navy. Elizabeth agrees to marry Commodore Norrington in exchange for the Navy to go save Will. The Commodore accepts and agrees to have Jack Sparrow's help.
• Sparrow leads the Navy to the cave where the Black Pearl crew is hiding, just second away from killing Will and spilling his blood all over the contents of the Aztec Gold Medallion chest. 
• Jack Sparrow goes into the cave in an attempt to save Will. As part of his plan, Jack pretends not to care whether Will is killed or not as he warn Barbossa that the entire Port Royal fleet is just outside the cave, waiting to capture them all. 
• The audience is led to suspect that Sparrow might have a secret plan up his sleeve. 
• Barbossa agrees not to kill Will yet, and makes Sparrow captain of the Pearl. (Because Jack suggests that he should take the English fleet's ships)
• The plan goes wrong as the skeleton pirates go after the Norrignton's crew. A brutal battle ensues. The chances of Norrington's victory seem dim, as the pirates are skeletons and are not affected by swords or gunshots. 
• Inside the cave, Jack finally reveals that he is indeed trying to rescue Will, and he starts a sword fight with Barbossa. 
• Meanwhile, Elizabeth makes her way to the cave in an attempt to rescue Will by herself. 
• After a long sword fight, Barbossa stabs Jack Sparrow in the stomach. The audience is left to believe he will die, until he steps back into the moonlight and reveals that HE IS ALSO A SKELETON!

• Sparrow reveals that he lifted the medallion from the chest in order to become "undead", and thus be safe in his fight with Barbossa. 
• The Norrington crew keeps fighting the pirates.
• RESOLUTION PEAK: The Peak in the Resolution is the CLIMAX when the following ensues: Jack, in the middle of his intense sword fight with Barbossa, throws Will the medallion. Will spills a little of his blood over the medallion. There is a gunshot. Will returns the blood-covered medallion to the chest. The audience is unsure of who shot whom. Then, we find out that Sparrow shot Barbossa, who finally dies because Will's blood lifted the curse, and he is thus mortal once more. The rest of the skeleton pirates are made mortal as well, and they end up surrendering to Norrington. basically, the "bad pirate" Barbossa is dead along with half his crew. Jack Sparrow is Captain of the Black Pearl once more.
• The third act's resolution ends in Jack Sparrow escaping the Port Royal gallows with Will's help, who finally comes to term with being a pirate. Jack escapes and keeps the Black Pearl. Will declares his love for Elizabeth, as she does towards him. Elizabeth's engagement to Norrington is cancelled, and Will and Elizabeth are last seen sharing a kiss overlooking the beautiful Caribbean. 

SUMMARY:

1st Act: Introduction of characters.
Peak: Elizabeth is captured.

2nd Act: Jack and Will try to save Elizabeth and recover Black Pearl
Peak: Will captured. Jack & Elizabeth deserted

3rd Act: Battle to end curse and rescue Will.
Peak: Climax, curse is lifted. Good guys win. Jack gets to live and captain the Pearl. Will and Elizabeth get together.
*Images from Google Images.